HUMAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS TYPE 2 FROM GUAYMI INDIANS IN PANAMA

摘要

The present invention relates to a human T-lymphocyte line (HTLV-II/G12.1) infected with a HTLV-II virus from the Guaymi Indians of Panama and to the infecting HTLV-II species (G12.1). Cells of the present invention are CD2+, CD3+, CD4+/CD8- and CD25+. The cells also express mature HTLV-II retroviral particles. This is the first isolation of HTLV-II from a defined non-intravenous drug using population. The present invention further relates to methods of identifying anti-HTLV-II. The present invention also relates to a variety of bioassays for the detection and diagnosis of HTLV infections.